January Meeting Notes and Website Updates!

January 20th Meeting Notes!

What a delightful meeting we had last night! Shaina Bilow demonstrated two handed colorwork knitting, catching floats, how to “stretch” your knitting to avoid TIGHT knitting when using both Continental and English style knitting. She also discussed yarn dominance, how and where to place your yarn to avoid tangles, colorwork knitting on straight needles, purling in two handed colorwork and more! Shaina has lots of fun hat, cowl and scarf patterns to get anyone started on their colorwork knitting adventure.

Here are some of the patterns that she showed us:

Highball hat:  https://www.ravelry.com/patterns/library/highball-hat

Sixth Knit Colorwork hat: https://www.ravelry.com/patterns/library/sixth-knit-colorwork-hat

She designed a KAL for Christmas (the bejeweled wrap- it was a kit) that matches this bejeweled hat pattern:

https://www.ravelry.com/patterns/library/bejeweled-hat

Shaina enjoys teaching, designing and all aspects of fiber art and knitting. You can find her on all the social media platforms to see what new ideas and designs she is up to!

The Auction is LIVE!

  • Find the link:  chat, website, and member email sent to members on 1/20/2026
  • Bidding ends 8 PM (central) on Friday, 1/23/2026
  • Pick up:  In Minneapolis from 1-3 PM on 1/24, 1/25, 1/30 & 1/31
    • Successful bidders will get an email with pick-up instructions (address, time, etc.)
  • The remaining auction items will be mailed on Feb 2

Great Guild Getaway Registration!                 

Registration for the 2026 GGG is LIVE! Here are the details:

  • When – Monday, February 23 at 2:00pm – Wednesday, February 25 at 1pm OR Friday, February 27 at 2:00pm – Sunday, March 1 at 1:00pm
  • Cost – Monday evening through Wednesday brunch OR Friday evening through Sunday brunch – $375
  • Who – Initially registration will only be open to Minnesota Knitters’ Guild members. There are only twenty-four spots available per session. If it does not sellout it will open to non-members for an additional fee in January 2026.
  • Meals – Registration includes Monday – Dinner; Tuesday Brunch and Dinner; Wednesday – Brunch; OR Friday – Dinner; Saturday – Brunch and Dinner; Sunday – Brunch. Vegetarian, gluten-free, and vegan meals are available when requested at registration.
  • Rooms – Variety of rooms: 1 room sleeps 2 people; 1 room sleeps 4 people and 6 rooms sleep 3 people. Each room has full-sized beds and its own bathroom with a whirlpool tub. Beds have down alternative pillows and comforters. Bathroom has towels, shampoo, hair dryer. Registrants will have the opportunity to let us know who they would like to room with at registration.
  • REGISTRATION IS NOW OPEN TO NON-MEMBERS
  • REGISTRATION CLOSES ON FEBRUARY 7TH!
  • Questions: email Janet Ungs at greatguildgetaway@knitters.org

         MKG Website Updates: Fiber Business Directory and Past Meeting Recordings

A big thank you to Thyra Nelson, Marketing Director; Kathy Lewinski, Webmaster and Maria Vratsanos, Technology Director for the following updates for the MKG website:

  • Under Resources, a Fiber Business directory!
    • Click on the resource button when you have logged in – it’s on the dashboard
    • Click on the Fiber Business Directory
      • It has three tabs:
        • Local Yarn Stores: addresses, phone numbers and website information
        • Fiber Events: listing of non-guild upcoming fiber events in Minnesota and the surrounding region
        • Farms and Dyers: will be updated to have a list of farms and dyers!
  • Past Meeting Recordings: on the dashboard after logging in (you must be a MKG member) click on the “PAST MEETING RECORDINGS” button
    • The available meetings are listed. Click on the meeting you would like to view. The link takes you to YouTube to watch the selected recording.

Volunteer on the board for the Guild:

MKG Secretary position open in August 2026Minnesota Knitters Guild email logo

It’s never too early to think about giving back to the MKG community! Being a member of the board of directors includes you on decisions and planning for the future. We are always looking for volunteers who are passionate about giving back to both the MKG community! Here is some basic information:

Secretary for the MKG Board – 3-year term

Starts August 2026

Responsibilities include: monthly board meetings, responding to requests from MKG members and the public, assisting the MKG librarian with purchases for the MKG magazines and books housed at Textile Center, and maintaining files as needed.

Contact: secretary@knitters.org or president@knitters.org

     Save the Date!

It’s the 40th Anniversary of Yarnover!

September 25-27, 2026

DoubleTree by Hilton: Minneapolis-Park Place, 1500 Park Place Blvd, Minneapolis, MN 55416

Three workshop timeslots: Saturday morning, Saturday afternoon and Sunday morning

Stay tuned for exciting event updates in the future!

 

Upcoming dates for Knitting Around Town:drawing of a sheep knitting

Friday, February 6th – Textile Center

1:00 to 4:00 pm – 3000 University Avenue, Minneapolis – in the library

 

Sip and Knit for January!

Knit and socialize with your fellow MKG members! Service Knitting donations are accepted as well.

Unmapped Brewery 

Dates: February 21st – 10 am to Noon

Address: 14625 Excelsior Blvd, Minnetonka 55435

Venn Brewing

Date: February 7th – 10 am to Noon

Address: 3550 East 46th Street, Minneapolis 55406

 

 

 

To say that this has been a winter of winters is an understatement in Minnesota! I hope that you all stay safe, warm and your needles are flying! I have given all my knitting attention to service knitting projects for the past two weeks: mittens, hats and engaging in supporting organizations in our local community. I am looking forward to attending the Great Guild Getaway next month, visiting Textile Center during their Fiber Art For All event, and starting new projects. I have a goal to learn some new techniques in 2026 for knitting – I hope you do too!

Cheers to knitting on in 2026!

Meg Duncan

President

Recent Posts

December Yarn Stores

We are so fortunate to have so many local fiber businesses. This holiday season we are thankful for the yarn store down the street wherever we live in the state.

Read More »

Our spinning demonstrations are sponsored by Get Bentz Farm. 

Theresa Bentz of Get Bentz Farm, Northfield, MNAfter growing up in the city and suburbs, the owners of Get Bentz Farm felt a need to be closer to nature and to be more connected to where their food came from. 

In 2014, they found a farm house for sale and later that year they decided on and purchased their first two Icelandic sheep. 

Once they had a good size flock they began marketing the amazing meat and wool. Initially, they found that many mills in the area do not process dual coated long wools, which slowed down their growth in yarn, but they did find a great market for wool filled bedding products and batting for spinning. 

Today, they have a variety of yarns, batting and roving as well as finished products like dryer balls, sheepskins, and wool bedding. Most recently, they opened their own Get Bentz Wool Mill as well as their own line of yarn – Badgerface Fiber.

Jean

Vice President

(Term 1, Year 2)

Jean Gross has had an interest in all things fiber since, at the age of 5, her mother gave her fabric scraps to keep her occupied. She is fluent in knitting, crocheting, tatting, embroidery, sewing, quilting and spinning, thanks to her mother, Janice, and grand mother, Clara. But Jean’s favorite thing to do with fiber is help others to explore its possibilities. She has taught at the Iowa State Fair, Des Moines Library, Freedom for Youth, the Des Moines Knitting Guild, Shepherds Market, local yarn shops and also teaches privately. Jean has served on several non-profit boards including FiberSmiths of Iowa and the Des Moines Knitting Guild. Jean lives in north central Iowa with her husband, Dave, and faithful canine, Rolo. She has published several knitting patterns.

Email Me
jtgross

Andi

Newsletter Editor

Andi (she/her) learned to knit from her mom over 40 years ago. She remembers going to MKG meetings in college when they were held at St. Kate’s, her alma mater. She knit on-and-off again for a while, and really dove back into the craft in 2015. She is also a quilter. She enjoys traveling and her husband is happy to stop at a yarn store or to look at sheep while on vacation. She and her husband live in the St. Paul area, both enjoy their respective crafts, and also going to the State Fair multiple times a season.

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Judy

Yarnover Committee Chair

From one of her mother’s friends, Judy learned to knit a pair of “paputki,” which are simple Polish house slippers.  Somehow this gave her the confidence to knit her boyfriend a cabled pullover sweater for Valentine’s Day which was graciously accepted and has lived in the bottom of the bottom drawer of said boyfriend’s dresser for fifty plus years.  Though she has made a few sweaters since then, she mostly knits blankets, scarves, hats and toys.

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Ravelry

Thyra

Marketing Director

(Term 1, Year 2)

I grew up watching my mom knit. She tried to teach me as a kid and I never enjoyed it, but after finishing college I found myself with extra time and no hobbies. In the last 20 years I have dove in all the way and love to learn new and challenging techniques. As my fiber love has grown, I have also started raising sheep in order to go from sheep to sweater. I love interacting with the sheep who have big personalities and learning to process and spin the wool has been a great adventure.

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Maria

Technology Director

(Term 1, Year 1)

Maria learned to knit from her grandmothers nearly 20 years ago and knit off and on through her teenage years, but really got hooked during graduate school. Since then, she has embraced the "never not knitting" mentality and has been spotted knitting on backpacking trips, on a seaplane, and at concerts to name a few. She has also just taught herself to spin. Maria is a recent transplant to the Twin Cities with her husband and two cats, and they enjoy hiking, running, and embracing the Minnesota lake culture.

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vrantisus

Nikky

Programming Director

(Term 1, Year 2)

Nikky was first introduced to knitting in 2012 when her visiting sister-in-law taught her the basics of casting on and the knit stitch. A few weeks later, she learned how to purl from her mother-in-law. From there, it quickly became a passion and she has taken on each new project with a desire to expand her skill and discover new techniques. She loves a good mystery (knit-a-long) and knits way more shawls than a single person can wear in a month.

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FroggyGirl72

Deb

Service Director

(Term 1, Year 2)

Deb learned to knit in the early 1980s as a happy by-product of Hill Street Blues fandom. For a couple of years, she and a gaggle of other students met weekly to watch the show, and one of those friends was always knitting. As it is with so many knitters, that friend was enthused to teach someone else. Deb has been knitting ever since and particularly enjoys playing with colorwork and knitting sweaters. She is constantly astonished at the skill, enthusiasm, and generosity of MKG members. (she, her, hers) (See our Service Knitting Page for more information about our current projects and donation process.)

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Meg

Membership

(Term 1, Year 1)

Meg learned to knit in Bloomington, Indiana at the age of 7 or 8 when her Aunt Anneke who worked in a local yarn shop had to take her along to work. Now a St. Paul denizen, she follows in the tradition of her grandmothers Pauline and Cornelia as a passionate knitter of sweaters. She loves colorwork, bright yarn and meeting new members. Meg is an extrovert and is always happy to connect!

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dotmeg

Kathryn

Treasurer

(Term 1, Year 1)

Kathryn taught herself to knit in grad school, which is a terrible time to pick up a highly addictive hobby! She has since taken many classes, learned from master knitters and explored numerous techniques like brioche, double knitting, bead work, and more. She always has at least four projects on the needles but mysteriously, her yarn stash never seems to go down. Her favorite projects are shawls and socks. In addition to knitting, she does some crochet, tatting, spinning, and weaving. She was inspired to volunteer for the Guild after her first Great Guild Getaway and is excited to give back to this community of incredible knitters!

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KDBren

Kendra

Secretary

(Term 1, Year 3)

Kendra lives in the Twin Cities and learned to hand knit from her mother in middle school. In the last few years, she has also learned crochet and machine knitting. Kendra enjoys knitting items to donate and challenging herself with new techniques. She prefers knitting in the round with colorful yarn. (she, her, hers)

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Meg

President

(Term 1, Year 2)

Meg grew up surrounded by makers. Her mom, a master quilter, former Home Ec teacher, and 4-H club leader in Duluth, taught her to sew, embroider, and cook. She won a trip to the State Fair as the Dress Review Princess at 13! Another MKG member taught her to knit continental style 15 years ago. Meg can’t sit still and NOT be knitting, embroidering, rug hooking or sewing. Favorite thing to knit? Mittens! She loves taking classes and learning new things – absolutely amazed and inspired by all the amazing knitters in the guild! (she, her, hers)

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finchgirl

Kathy

Webmaster

Kathy has always been into crafts, but didn’t teach herself to knit until after college. She really got hooked while living in San Francisco when a friend opened a knitting store. To pitch in, Kathy started knitting up fun (and odd) things for window displays, as well as teaching classes. In the last couple of years, she has started designing her own knitting patterns (many of them available for free on Ravelry!) with toys and mittens being her primary obsessions. (she/her/hers)

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katbaro